Heel burnishing or finishing wheel.



G. ALMATSON.

HEEL BURNISHING 0R FINISHING WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19,1913.

Patented Mar. 24, 191i 'rrrrr r r 5 2M (5. MM alum/am UNITED STATESPATENT @FFIQE.

CARL A. MATSON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF 'IO ALBERTIVI. HOYT, OFSWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS.

HEEL BURNISHING 0R FINISHING WHEEL.

To all 10710121 it may concern Be it known that I, CARL A. MATsoN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essexand State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inHeel Burnishing or Finishing lVheels, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a wheel which is adapted to finish the edgesof the heels of boots and shoes either by the wax treating operation orby burnishing the edges of said heels after they have been colored withsuitable coloring material.

The object of the invention is to provide a wheel which will apply waxevenly to the edges of the heels of boots and shoes and which will alsoimpart a rubbing and polishing and burnishing action to the edges ofsaid heels of boots and shoes when they are held against it.

Moreover, it is the object of this invention to provide a wheel of thecharacter set forth which will have a continuous yielding metallicperiphery and which will thus accommodate itself to the different curvesof the edges of boot and shoe heels.

Further it is the object of this invention to provide a wheel of thecharacter set forth which shall be cheap to manufacture and durable inits construction.

In wax treatingthe heels of boots and shoes by means of my improvedwheel, the wax may be applied in a melted condition to the periphery ofthe wheel and the superfluous wax removed therefrom by means of ascraper as described and set forth in my application Serial No. 734,507filed December 2, 1912, or the wax may be applied by means of a stickheld against the periphery of the wheel or in any of the various ways inwhich wax has heretofore been applied to the surface of the work-rubbingwheel in this art.

It is desirable, in addition to rubbing the heel cireumferentiallythereof in the wax treating operation to also simultaneously rub theheel transversely thereof or in a direction preferably from the heelseat toward the top lift, and it is the object of this invention toprovide a wheel which shall perform such an operation upon the edges ofboot and shoe heels which are applied to its periphery.

In addition to wax treating the edges of Specification of Letterslatent.

Application filed February 19, 1913.

Patented Mar. 2st, 1914.

Serial No. 749,295.

boot and shoe heels by means of my improved wheel, the same may be usedas a burnishing wheel pure and simple-that is. it may be used to imparta high luster to the edges of the heels of boots or shoes and can beutilized without the wax if so desired, in which case a coloringmaterial is employed, such as blacking, and the burnishlng wheel is thenutilized to polish or burnish the edge of the heel with this coloringmaterial thereon. In either case, whether by wax treating or byburnishing a colored heel, my improved burnishing wheel imparts a highluster and smooth finish to the edge of the boot or shoe heel to whichit is applied.

The invention, therefore, consists in a heel burnishing and finishingwheel such as described in the following specification and particularlyof the construction set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of amachine for wax treating, burnishing and finishing the edges of theheels of boots and shoes with my improved heel burnishing wheel attachedthereto, the parts being broken away to save space. Fig. 2 is asectional elevation taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, also broken away to savespace, a shoe heel being shown in dotted lines in the proper positionrelatively thereto. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of a modified form ofmy improved burnishing and finishing wheel. Fig. 4 is a detail sectionof a portion of a wheel illustrating another modified form of myinvention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views ofthedrawings.

In the drawings, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, is a frame having a bearing6 in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 7 to which is attached a pulleyS by means of which said shaft is rotated. My improved heel finishingand burnishing wheel 9 is attached to the front end of said shaft andembodies a hub 10 which is fastened by a set-screw 11 to said shaft 7.

The periphery of the wheel 9 is formed by a flexible member, preferablyconsisting of a metallic strip 12 forming a helix, the median axial lineof said helix extending in the same general direction as the axis ofsaid wheel, one end of said metallic member being fastened, preferablyby welding, to a ring 4, the other end of said metallic member beingfastened to an annular flange 15, which flange is fastened by means ofscrews 16 to a cylindrical flange 17 forming a part of the hub 10. Thering 4 fits in an annular recess 18 provided in a flange 13 and isfastenedthereto by means of screws 14. The cylindrical flange 17 isprovided with an annular recess 19 to receive and center the flange 15.The flange 13 is provided with a hub 20 and is adjustably fastened tothe hub 10 by means of a set-screw 21. The helical member 12 is thusfastened to a holder, said holder consisting of the hub 10 and theflanges 13, 15 and 17 and ring 4. It will thus be seen that the helicalmember 12 constitutes the periphery of the wheel 9 and is supported uponthe holder hereinbefore described, which holder is fastened to the shaft7 by the set-screw 11 and is rotated therewith. The adjacentconvolutions of the helical member 12 substantially contact with eachother and extend circumferentially around the periphery of said wheel,so that the wax cannot penetrate to the interior of the wheel when saidwheel is used as a finishing wheel and the flanges 13 and 15 act to holdthe convolutions of the helical member against lateral movementrelatively to each other. By adjusting the flange 13 toward the flange15, it will be seen that the different convolutions of the helicalmember 12 may be clamped against each other.

' The helical member 12 is preferably formed from a tube of proper sizewhich is placed upon a lathe and out so as to form the difierentconvolutions of the helical member 12. Said helical member is thenplaced in a lathe and its convolutions clamped against each other bysuitable means and the convex outer surface of the same is then turnedthereon in said lathe. The outer edges of the helical strip 12 arerounded or chamfered off, thus forming between adjacent edges a helicalgroove 30. This chamfering or rounding off of the outer edges of thehelical member prevents said edges from injuring or scratching thesurface of the heel, and also where the convolutions are brought closelytogether there is formed between the adjacent rounded edges a helicalgroove 30 which acts as a guide or conductor for the melted wax andbymeans of this helical groove the melted wax will be distributed evenlythroughout the entire periphery of the wheel, so that the wax will belaid in an even layer and supplied to the heel in even quantities duringthe finishing operation. The inner diameter of the helical member ismade greater than the outer diameter of the flange 17, so that a space22 is provided in the finished wheel which allows the differentconvolutions of the helix to yield or move inwardly toward the medianaxial line of the wheel without abutting against said cylindrical flange17 unless said convolutions are displaced to an abnormal or unnecessaryextent, whereupon said flange 17 will act as a stop to limit suchdisplacement.

Suitable means for heating the wheel 9 is provided, such as the gas pipe23 (Fig. 2). It will be seen that the periphery of the wheel 9 is acontinuous yielding metallic periphery and also that said periphery isresilent.

l/Vhile I have described my improved wheel as havingthe helical memberformed of metal, it will, however, be evident that any material which ishard as compared with leather and can, therefore, polish or burnish thesame when rubbed thereagainst is an equivalent of metal and may be usedwithout departing from the spirit of my invention. Such a material maybe found in fiber and may be used with very good results, although notso durable and satisfactory as metal.

It is evident that the periphery of the wheel as a whole will yield andconform to the varying cross sectional contours of the edges ofdifferent heels of boots and shoes which may be applied thereto inperforming the finishing and burnishing operation, and as the member 12is formed as a helix it is evident that when the wheel is rotated therewill be a polishing action extending circumferentially of the edge ofthe heel and also a tendency to lay the fibers of the leather smoothly,by reason of the action of the helically disposed convolutions of themember 12 which thus stand at an angle and tend to rub the edge of theheel from the heel seat toward the top lift.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a modified form of my invention in which aplurality of strips of material 24, 25 and 26 extend entirely around theperiphery of the wheel and are supported upon a holder 27 similar to theholder illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. These strips of material each forma coil and the coils are arranged so that a convolution of each of saidcoils is located between convolutions of another of said coils, saidcoils being formed in the present instance of three different pieces ofmetal each forming a helix and the three coils forming a triple helix.By this arrangement compartively thin strips of metal can be used andobtain a steep inclination or pitch and it is thus possible to place thediflerent convolutions of the wire in contact with each other, making acontinuous metallic periphery of a plurality of helical members.

In Fig. 4 another modified form of my invention is illustrated in whichthe helical member 28 is formed of a wire, said wire being supportedupon a holder 29 in a manner similar to that described in relation tothe form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The cross sectional contour of the periphery of the work rubbing wheelis made so as to be convex in its normal form and when a heel having astraight edge or having a curved edge of a lesser degree than the curveupon which the periphery of said wheel is formed is being burnished orfinished upon my improved burnishing wheel, the different convolutionsof the helix forming the periphery of said wheel will yield so that theperiphery of the wheel will conform to the shape of the edge of the heelwhich is finished thereon.

In using the wheel of my invention, the shoe is placed against it in theusual manner and where wax is utilized it is supplied to the wheel byany suitable means, as hereinbefore set forth, so that an even coat ofwax is laced upon the edge of the heel and thoroug ily burnished andpolished thereon, said heel afterward being subjected to the action of apadding roll and a brush to obtain a finer polish in a manner well knownto those skilled in this art. The wheel being heated by a jet of gas orother suitable means keeps the wax in a liquid condition while it isbeing applied to the heel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire by LettersPatent to secure is:

1. A wheel for burnishing and finishing parts of boots and shoes havinga continuous yielding metallic periphery, with a helical groove thereinextending circumfercntially therearound.

2. A heel burnishing and finishing wheel having, in combination, aflexible helical member forming the periphery of said wheel, the medianaxial line of said helical member extending in the same generaldirection as the axis of said wheel, and a holder for said member,adapted to hold the adjacent faces of the convolutions of said helicalmember in contact with each other throughout their entire length,whereby the passage of free wax between said convolutions is prevented.

8. A heel burnishing and finishing wheel having, in combination, a stripof material forming a helical member and constituting the periphery ofsaid wheel, the median axial line of said helical member extending inthe same general direction as the axis of said wheel, the outer diameterof each convolution of said helical member being greater than the innerdiameters of the convolutions adjacent. thereto and a holder for saidmember adapted to hold the adjacent faces of the convolutions of saidhelical member in contact with each other throughout their entirelength, whereby the passage of free wax between said convolutions isprevented.

4. A heel burnishing and finishing wheel having, in combination, a stripof material forming a helical member and constituting the periphery ofsaid wheel, the median axial line of said helical member extending inthe same general direction as the axis of said wheel, and a holder forsaid helical member adapted to support said helical member with theadjacent convolutions thereof substantially in contact with each otherthroughout their entire length, the outer edges of said strip beingbeveled whereby a helical groove is formed in said periphery extendingcircumferentially therearound and the passage of free wax between saidconvolutions is prevented.

5. A heel finishing wheel having, in combination, a strip of materialforming a helical member and constituting the periphery of said wheel,the side faces of said strip being flat, and a holder for said helicalmember embodying two flanges to which the opposite ends of said helicalmember are fastened whereby said fiat faces may be held in contact witheach other throughout their entire length and the passage of free waxtherebetween prevented.

6. A heel finishing wheel having, in combination, a strip of materialforming a helical member and constituting the periphery of said wheeland a holder for said helical member embodying a hub and two annularflanges fast thereto, the opposite ends of said strip of material beingfastened to said flanges.

7. A heel finishing wheel having, in combination, a strip of materialbent to form a helical member and constituting the periphery of saidwheel and a holder for said helical member embodying a hub with twoflanges thereon, the opposite ends of said strip of material beingfastened to said flanges, one of said flanges being adjustable on aidhub toward and away from the other of said flanges, whereby the adjacentcon volutions of said helical member may be held against lateralmovement.

8. A heel burnishing and finishing wheel having, in combination, a stripof material forming a helical member and constituting the periphery ofsaid wheel, the median axial line of said helical member extending inthe same general direction as the axis of a said wheel, the outer edgesof said helical member being chamfcred to form a helical groove in saidperiphery, and a holder for said member.

9. A heel burnishing and finishing wheel having, in combination, a stripof material forming a helical member and constituting the periphery ofsaid wheel, the median axial line of said helical member extending inthe same general direction as the axis of said wheel, the outer edges ofsaid &

helical member being chamfered to form inner edges of convolutions ofsaid strip a helical groove in said periphery and a i of material andlimit the distance to which i holder for said helical member adapted tosupport said helical member with the adjacent convolutions thereofsubstantially in contact with each other.

10. A rotary heel burnishing and finishing tool having, in combination,a rim comprising a strip of material forming a helical member, a holderfor said member and a stop on said holder adapted to engage the saidconvolutions can be moved toward the axial line of said tool.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

CARL A. MATSON. Vitnesses:

CHARLES S. GOODING, SYDNEY E. TAFT.

Copies of this patent may b obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patentn. Washington, D. C.

